Police in India are probing whether trade in human body parts could be linked to last week's discovery of 17 victims, mostly children, near New Delhi.

Authorities say they are pursuing the possible link because the victims' skulls and other parts were found, but many torsos were missing.

Police say they are investigating connections between two men already in custody and a local doctor.

The two men - a domestic servant and a businessman who owned the house where the body parts were found - have been charged with kidnapping, rape and murder.

Police say the domestic servant has confessed to luring at least six children to his home with candy, then sexually assaulting and killing them.

Residents in the New Delhi suburb of Noida say they had complained to police about missing children, but were ignored. At least seven police officers have since been suspended for negligence in handling the cases.